GRPI Model
Goals, Roles, Processes, Interpersonal Relationships for team diagnosis.
PURPOSE
When teams are not functioning, the causes are often ambiguities that are not easy to locate. The GRPI Model helps systematically diagnose whether problems lie at the level of goals, roles, processes, or interpersonal relationships. It prevents relationship conflicts from being treated when the actual problem is unclear goals or roles.
HOW TO USE
The team is analyzed along four levels from top to bottom: Are the goals clear and shared? Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined? Are work processes and decision paths established? Do the interpersonal relationships work? Problems at higher levels are addressed first, as they cause symptoms at lower levels.
WHAT IT IS
The GRPI Model is a team diagnosis framework that distinguishes four levels of team effectiveness: Goals, Roles, Processes, and Interpersonal Relationships. It was developed by Richard Beckhard and is one of the oldest and most proven models in team development. The hierarchical arrangement of levels implies that problems should be diagnosed and resolved from top to bottom.
EXAMPLE
Example: Your newly assembled project team — consisting of members from three departments — is still not functioning properly after four weeks and you do not know why. You use the GRPI Model and systematically work through the four levels: Are the Goals clear? Are the Roles defined? Are the Processes agreed upon? Are the Interpersonal relationships working?